Houstonia’s The Must List tells you about something going on in Houston that you absolutely cannot miss.

As the waning days of summer begin to slowly dissolve into the pumpkin spiced–promise of fall, there stands a line of steadfast warriors determined to keep the sweaty, sandy fun going for just a little longer. And who, exactly, are these stalwarts of sunshine, these heroes of humidity? One would presume outdoorsy types like surfers or bike enthusiasts, but no. It’s competitive architects who work to extend summer into September.

Every year, the Houston chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Houston) presents the Galveston Sandcastle Festival, a competition celebrating the creative side of structural design. Set for the weekend of September 13 and 14 on Galveston’s East Beach, this year’s event features a friendly sandcastle contest on Saturday between professional architects and architecture students affiliated with AIA.

“[Galveston Sandcastle Festival] was definitely competitive from the very beginning, but it’s grown over time to be a much bigger, much more well-organized thing now,” says Rusty Bienvenue, AIA Houston’s executive director.

For around 38 years, AIA members have congregated in Galveston to show off their design and drafting skills. But it wasn’t until 2024 when they started partnering with the Galveston Park Board and surfing and arts nonprofit La Izquierda to offer a larger variety of activities that go beyond just sandcastles. Visitors can also expect live music, arts and small business vendors, solar cooking demos, sandcastle workshops, and an amateur sandcastle-building competition held on Sunday.

The festival’s original spirit as a low-stakes, no-pressure way for architects to enjoy themselves remains at the core. “When it was just the industry, it was less of a family event. Now, it truly is a big family thing,” says Bienvenue, noting that the addition of more entertainment options helps break up some of the visual monotony of watching the sandcastles being built over the span of the five designated hours.

This year, 27 teams will compete for the ultimate prize—the Golden Bucket Award—really, just a fancy way to say bragging rights. Other awards will be given to the best college team, the best team T-shirts, the best team signage, and the most sustainable practices.

From the outside looking in, audiences can “expect it to look like there [are] no rules,” Bienvenue says. Still, teams are held to some tight restrictions for the sake of personal safety and responsible environmental stewardship. For one, while members may come from different professional backgrounds, an architect must be a part of the team (kids can also help with sandcastle builds, but engineers and contractors are the most popular additions). There are also no limits to how many people can join a team. Some bring in entire crews of contractors.

The other major restriction is that competitors must only use water and the assigned amount of delivered sand, distributed from around 25 cubic yards, as their primary materials. Other forms of media are allowed during the construction process, but once the judging begins, they all need to be removed. Rather than using what’s already on the beach, AIA has sand brought to the site via dump trucks for the sake of nearby sea turtle nests. Too much digging into East Beach could disturb the already threatened eggs, and the City of Galveston asks attendees to report any sea turtles or nests they find during the festival by calling 866-887-8535 with information.

Beyond that, participants are limited only by physics and creativity. Pop culture sculptures are always popular, as are current events. One year’s festivities coincided with a norovirus outbreak on a cruise ship, and at least five different teams poked fun at the story through their sassy sandcastles. There’s also a team well-known for its lovingly rendered dragons, complete with hyperdetailed scales. This year, teams can also compete in only one of six different categories for additional castle cred. Those include Foodtastic, Kidtastic: Heroes/Villains, Architectural Icon, Passport & Travel: This World and Beyond!, Let the Games Begin!, and Traditional Sandcastle. However, how the teams choose to interpret these themes is up to them. They get a chance to really push their imaginations and design standout results.

“[The festival is] good for our members. They love it. They enjoy participating in it. It’s a good diversion from their practice, but still a creative outlet for them,” Bienvenue says. “…Trade associations tend to have sort of a stodgy, business-y aspect to them, and this is something that we can do with our members and with the public that is fun and not stodgy.”

Even for the unlucky teams who miscalculate and watch as their efforts crumble to mere clumps of grains, there’s still a way to win. Judges give out an Epic Fail award as a good-natured paean for competitors who tried their best. If anyone happens to learn a few lessons along the way, then that’s a happy bonus.

Bienvenue says the event helps promote awareness of both AIA Houston and the Architecture Center of Houston, a professional hub and gallery space that serves as the organization’s headquarters, while also using ticket sales to fund scholarships for aspiring architecture students. AIA members are also on-site to answer attendees’ questions about the heavily technical art of designing buildings, home furnishings, and public infrastructure. But even with this element, no one—be they a competitor or spectator—should forget the festival’s one overarching rule:  “I always tell our folks, ‘Don't forget the fun,’” Bienvenue says.